Her image slowly soothes the rage, dousing my vengeance until the only thing left is longing. My feral form fades, and I become myself. With a heavy sigh, I sit on the floor, my wounds still aching, though better. I’m stronger.
“I’m coming for you, my mate. Hold on for me. Hold on.” I grip our golden thread tighter, refusing to let it wither. “Can you feel me?” I send what little magic I can conjure down the bond, rippling like waves in a pool. “I’m here, beloved. Wait for me. Protect yourself. Do what you must to stay alive.I am coming for you.”
I force myself to my feet and return to my chambers. Dilrubin is already at work on the mess.
“Apologies,” I grunt and lean against the charred wall.
“Has happened many times.” Dilrubin, my chamber servant, gives me a look over his shoulder, his bulbous nose wiggling. “Many kings I have served. Each one does this at least once.”
I’m just glad no one was here when it happened. The blast would’ve killed a mortal. But the reason for it worries me far more—IfeltEmma was in danger. The seekers are vile creatures, and Eraldon is forged in even darker fashion. But there’s more at work than I realized. Emma isn’t just in physical danger. Eraldon is working on her essence, twisting her soul to his design.
Pounding steps alert me to my warriors arriving, Brock in the lead.
“My lord—”
“I’m leaving for the Nightlands.” I stand straight. “You won’t talk me out of it.”
“But the realm needs—”
“What the realm needs is its queen. I will not forsake my mate. In my stead, I appoint you lord regent. You will rule while I retrieve Emma.”
Brock blanches, speechless for the first time I can remember.
“I’m glad we’re in agreement.” I clap him on the arm.
He starts to sputter. “I can’t rule. There’s no precedent for such a decree.”
“Then I’m making precedent.” I grip his shoulder and hold his gaze. “I would trust no one else with my realm.”
“Harsh.” Everett frowns.
Charen punches him in the shoulder.
“I cannot accept such a position.” Brock shakes his head. “My place is by your side.”
I speak the only language Brock understands without question. Duty. “Your place is where I command it.”
His eyebrows lift, but he doesn’t argue this time, even though I can sense he’s desperate to refuse. “I will do as you command in all things.”
“I know. That’s why you’ll be the perfect regent in my absence. Calm the people. Tell them their king has gone to fight the threat head-on. I will kill Eraldon and end the danger from the night realm. If Sigrid wishes to go to war over it, then we will deal with that when it comes. But I cannot sit in the Shard of Day and do nothing when my soul has been ripped away.”
He swallows hard. “I will do as you command, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. You’re still weak, and the night realm rebuffs your power. This is no easy task.”
“Old friend.” I lower my voice. “When I return, it will be with my mate, the new queen of the realm.”
“May the Ancestors make it so.” He gives a respectful nod as he utters the prayer, then sighs heavy and loud. “This is a terrible idea. You realize this?”
“It’s the only one I have.” I speak the truth. “If I don’t have Emma, I don’t want to rule. I don’t want tolive. Do you understand?”
Brock’s brow furrows. “I don’t … But I hope that one day I will. The day I find my mate.”
“You’ll find her, and if she’s anything like mine, she’ll be far more than you ever expected.”
That finally gets a look from him that isn’t solely filled with worry.
“The rest of you are with me.” I force my aching bones to obey as I stride back into the hall and head toward the obsidian witch’s quarters. “But first we have to deal with Selene.”
“What about the boon she requested?” Everett smirks.
